Last week we brought you a selection of our 5 favourite bike shops in North London. This week we are working our way around the compass and come to East London.
East London has a lot of cyclists – it’s a great place to ride a bike and has loads of lovely canals, parks and marshes for peaceful commutes and lovely weekend rides. It also has a pretty large selection of bike shops! The ones we have chosen are a selection of our favourites and each one offers something a little different.
The Hackney Peddler
Hackney Downs Studio, Amherst Terrace E8 2BT
Tel:020 3095 9789
Purveyor of fine vintage frames and bikes The Hackney Peddler is a great place to go if you want a bike built up with classic styling. They have an amazing warehouse space stuffed full of lovely frames – its pretty fun to browse around!
Their workshop can fix most problems on most bikes, and they have a good range of secondhand parts so upgrades and replacing worn out bits doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Bikeworks
138-140 Cambridge Heath Road E1 5QJ
Tel: 0208 980 7998
Bikeworks is a bike shop and a non-profit cycling charity. They have a full shop with all the things you need to keep you on the road and keep you and your bike safe. They also have a great selection of second hand bikes, all fully checked over by their mechanics.
The workshop offers a complete range of services at reasonable prices. There are also fix your own bike sessions on Thursday evenings and Saturdays, with a mechanic on hand for support should something befuddle. So if you fancy doing some tune up and need space and tools, this is the place for you.
Bikeworks is also a charity and they run various courses and sessions. They have mechanic training programs to get people back into work and they offer cycle training and all ability riding clubs for people with disabilities on specially adapted bikes. You can volunteer to help out at these sessions – they are great fun and really rewarding.
Brick Lane Bikes
118 Bethnal Green Road E2 6DG
Tel: 020 7033 9053
Single-speed/fixies aficionados, Brick Lane bikes is a haven for all things simple, if not always cheap: the guys that work here really know what they are talking about when it comes to one cog riding.
They have a great range of new bikes and gear as well as a ceiling full of second hand and vintage frames. BLB also have their own range of good quality, pretty affordable components perfect for any kind of urban riding – they have a great range of narrow handlebars for zipping through traffic and some sturdy, affordable own brand tyres. Finally, if you are after a super fancy track build, these guys have you covered too.
Skinny Eric’s
16 Felstead Street E9 5LT
Tel: 0203 417 0252
If your bike is old, odd or just in need of some TLC, the Skinny Eric’s is the place to head. They specialise in rare and vintage parts and have all the somewhat unusual tools that go along with them. If you want a beautifully put together, classic looking bike these are your guys as well.
London Field Cycles
218 Mare Street E8 1PJ
Tel:020 8525 0077
London Field’s has been closed for a little while following a fire, but they are open again on April 8th and will surely be back to their old awesome self. They have a great range of bikes for every form of cycling, and every size for cyclist from young beginners all the way up. They also have all the accessories and bits you would need to go with your new steed.
Their workshop is great and they offer a full compliment of the usual services at reasonable prices.
What is your favourite bike shop in East London?
Armourtex E9.
Off the beaten track…
Quietly doing a great job of looking after Hackney’s bikes.
http://www.armourtexltd.co.uk/cycles/
Armourtex is sadly no longer in the bike repair business.
London Bike Kitchen is my new favourite bike repair shop.
http://www.lbk.org.uk/
I like Perlie Rides – http://www.perlierides.com/
Not a fan of London Fields Cycles, tbh. Some of the staff are nice, but the management are as grumpy as they come.
I know who you mean (and he’s all right when you get to know him!) but he doesn’t work there any more. It’s very jazzy since the refit though, feels a bit intimidating to the mere commuting cyclist.
Hub Velo in Clapton is tiny but ace
Perlie Rides is not mentioned in this post. You can find them in Well street Hackney. In my mind if you need your bike repaired they are some of the most diligent knowledgeable mechanics in hackney. Well worth travelling for. I moved to Clapton then crouch end but i still go back to Hackney for my bike service a couple of times a year. http://www.perlierides.co.uk
A & S Cycles Been around for years. Service and repairs excellent. On Chatsworth Rd.
Perlie Rides is not far from Victoria Park. Should definitely be on this list if not top! http://www.perlierides.co.uk
Bikeworks-I have used them a few times-great for repairs ,and really helpful staff.
Bikeworks is indeed great, but the address shown here is wrong – they are further Cambridge Heath Road near Cambridge Heath tube station. 204a Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2 9NQ.
You guys clearly haven’t heard about Loftys bikes next to the greenway.
Lofty’s Bikes : https://loftysbikes.co.uk/
Always helpful, they’re at 429 Wick Lane, E3 2JG